A03

• :) of antipsychotics is that there is a lot of evidence to suggest it is reasonably effective

  e.g., a review compared Chlorpromazine w a placebo & found that the typical antipsychotic was associated with reduced symptom severity as well as lower relapse rates.

  Research also found Clozapine to be > effective than other atypical antipsychotics & is also effective in 30-50% of cases where patients failed to respond to typical antipsychs

  => that antipsychs are at least moderately effective & can be used to treat schizophrenia and improve patients’ quality of life, to a certain extent.
• Having said that, there's problems w the evid for effectiveness of antipsychotics

  e.g one study revealed that some successful trials published their data multiple times, thereby exaggerating the evid for +ve effects.

  The study also => that coz antipsycs have a powerful calming effect, it makes it easier to demonstrate they have a +ve effect on schizo ppl, which isn't the same as tackling underlying symptoms & psychosis as a condition.

  => antipsyic drugs may X be that effective after all & effectiveness could potentially have been exaggerated by drug companies, who are looking to make a profit.
• Another :( of antipsychotic drugs is the likelihood of side effects, which can be life threatening in some cases.

  e.g, typical antipsychcs could -> dizziness, sleepiness, weight gain &

  tardive dyskinesia which can =>> to involuntary facial movements like blinking and lip smacking.

  In more severe cases of typical antipsychotic use, it can =>> to neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) which can manifest as high temperature, delirium & coma, & can be fatal.

  :. antipsychotics can reduce symptoms but also -vely affect people’s quality of life & result in them stop taking medication altogether.
• Point: A :( of using antipsychotics is that it raises serious ethical issues.

  Evidence: e.g, critics have referred to antipsychotics as ‘chemical straitjackets’ as they reduce patients to a calm, zombie-like state.

  Explain: This means they don’t have therapeutic value and fail to cure symptoms as they are used primarily to calm patients and make them easier to work with for staff.

  Link: Therefore, this suggests that antipsychotics are not actually for the benefit of the patients themselves and they may not even be in a position (psychotic state) to consent to such treatment in the first place.